The Ranchera
· The popular ranchera are songs from the heart, singing about
love for someone, lost love, patriotic love (both national and local),
nature and environment, etc.
· The traditional ranchera can be 3/4, 2/4 or 4/4. Contemporary
rancheras include compositions with a mixture of a single ranchera rhythm
and a son jaliscience or huapango rhythms. (These can be referred to as
“canciones”.)
· The ranchera is a simple song form with instrumental introduction,
verse and/or refrain, return to the instrumental interlude, verse and/or
refrain and tag ending. Majority in major keys.
· Each ranchera meter has a specific tradtional tag phrase ending
and tag song form ending.
1. The 3/4 ranchera: The “Remate” (tag phrase ending)
2. The 3/4 tag ending:
3. The 3/4 ranchera tag ending (minor key):
4. The 2/4 ranchera: The “Remate #1”
5. The 2/4 ranchera: The “Remate #2”
· Many times, Remate #2 is immediately followed by Remate #1.
6. The 2/4 ranchera tag ending:
7. The 4/4 ranchera: one of many Remates
8. The 4/4 ranchera ending #1:
9. The 4/4 ranchera ending #2:
